Get paid -- and get published
It's the second time it's happened to me -- I've sold a story, written it, worked with the editor on the edits, been paid -- and then the story never gets published.
The first time was with a well-established, widely read news and lifestyle Web site. In every other way it was a happy experience. I generously was paid for all rights. The editor was pleasant, and her edits insightful. My check came within weeks of acceptance. And then the story never got published.
It was their mistake. They assigned the same story to two different writers (I don't get it, either), and mine was the unlucky version that got forgotten about. The editor was apologetic about it and agreed hand back all rights to me. I ended up rewriting it for a news wire service. The biggest disappointment was that it would have been a portfolio piece with a major Web site.
Now it's happened again. Last year I wrote a personal essay for a well-established trade magazine. Again, in every other way it was a happy experience. The editor said the piece was scheduled for last October, but it got held. She then said it probably would run early this year, but it never did. Eventually she stopped returning my e-mails, and when I called the magazine I learned she no longer worked there. Another editor was apologetic and agreed to hold on to the piece for a future issue or hand back the rights to me.
I chose to let the magazine hold on to the piece, at least for now. If I end up selling it elsewhere I'll let the editor know. It would be another portfolio piece.
The lesson, as I see it, is that our job as freelance journalists doesn't end once an editor approves a final edit and we get our check in the mail. It is our responsibility to see a story through all the way to publication.